Worshipping Gold

The worship and idolisation of gold medallions at Olympic games has probably been going on for as long as the Olympic games.

With the lesser than expected gold haul from the Aussie contingent and the resulting calls for funding inquiries our worship has become more apparent in London.  How else would we get the headline “Salvation” after Sally Pearson’s win in the 100metre hurdles?  Salvation is not gained by winning gold.

Australians seems to think that we ought to win gold.  That we deserve them. That we have an entitlement to them.  When the best medal prospects don’t win the question gets asked, “What went wrong?”  It was asked of the men’s hockey team when they lost their semi final to Germany.  The correct answer should have been, ‘nothing, they were just better’.

We are quick to condemn.  It has happened to our national cricket team in recent years.  If they win they are heroes, if they lose they are no good and never will be.

It seems forgotten that other athletes have been working just as hard if not harder for exactly the same goal.  They also deserve reward for their efforts.  There’s nothing so special about us that makes us more deserving of gold.

Frankly, the Olympics have been very enjoyable because of the international spread of medal winners.  One should just watch and enjoy the athleticism instead of living vicariously through our Olympians.